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What is the Best Way to get Rid of a Stuffy Nose?

Gregory Hanson
Gregory Hanson

Everyone suffers from nasal congestion periodically, but fortunately, many different remedies are available to help get rid of a stuffy nose. In some cases, congestion is caused by environmental factors, such as the presence of allergens or the level of humidity, and modifications to these environmental factors can help relieve the problem. In other cases, medication may be needed, and some medical problems, such as sinus infections, can be permanently cured or prevented with the right drugs. Other medical problems, particularly colds, cannot be cured medically, but the nasal congestion that they cause can be treated.

Stuffy noses are particularly common in the winter, because time spent in very dry winter air causes irritation of the nasal passages, which can lead to congestion. The cold of outside air also irritates the upper respiratory system. The best way to get rid of a stuffy nose caused by these environmental factors is to address the root causes. A humidifier adds moisture to the air and can help treat or prevent a stuffy nose caused by dry air, while a scarf or any other clothing that keeps the nose warm will protect the nose from cold air.

Dry air can make a stuffy nose worse.
Dry air can make a stuffy nose worse.

Allergies are another typical cause of nasal congestion. The easiest way to treat a stuffy nose caused by allergies is to remove or avoid the source of the reaction. Dust, mold, and pet allergies can all be partially or completely dealt with this way. If cleaning up or avoiding allergens isn’t an option, then antihistamines may help. These drugs block the overactive immune response that causes nasal congestion.

A stuffy nose associated with a cold may not be immediately curable.
A stuffy nose associated with a cold may not be immediately curable.

Most people will get sick with a cold at least once every year and sometimes even more frequently. The stuffy nose associated with a cold cannot be completely cured with medicine because colds are caused by viruses. Several treatments can temporarily relieve a stuffy nose caused by a cold, however. Decongestants, which work by opening airways and drying out the mucus membranes in the nose, can provide hours of relief. Saline treatments, which irrigate the nasal passages, are messy but can clear out the mucus.

A stuffy nose caused by dry air can be treated or prevented using a humidifier.
A stuffy nose caused by dry air can be treated or prevented using a humidifier.

In some cases, a stuffy nose may be the result of a sinus infection. Sinus passages extend through much of the face, and an infection will usually cause headaches in addition to a runny nose. A medical professional may need to diagnose a sinus infection. Most are viral and can be treated like colds. Some sinus infections are bacterial, however, and the only surefire way to get rid of a stuffy nose caused by a bacterial infection is a prescription for antibiotics.

Discussion Comments

Cageybird

I've never been able to get rid of a stuffy nose until the rest of my cold symptoms also subside. It seems like a stuffy or runny nose is the last major symptom to go away, unless my ears also get stuffed up.

Inaventu

My favorite stuffy nose remedy involves medicated steam. There are commercial steamers available for this purpose, or you can position yourself over a pot of boiling water and breathe in the vapors. Breathing in steam helps loosen a cough, too.

Buster29

My mother-in-law still swears by nasal inhalers to get rid of a stuffy nose quickly. These inhalers can be found in most drug stores, in the cold and flu aisle. They are made from a smooth plastic, and contain a concentrated form of menthol or camphor. The user inserts the end of the inhaler into the nostrils and breathes in deeply. The vapors are supposed to penetrate the mucus and help to shrink the nasal passages.

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    • Dry air can make a stuffy nose worse.
      By: olly
      Dry air can make a stuffy nose worse.
    • A stuffy nose associated with a cold may not be immediately curable.
      By: GVictoria
      A stuffy nose associated with a cold may not be immediately curable.
    • A stuffy nose caused by dry air can be treated or prevented using a humidifier.
      By: StockPhotosArt
      A stuffy nose caused by dry air can be treated or prevented using a humidifier.
    • A sinus infection may cause headaches and runny nose.
      By: Halfpoint
      A sinus infection may cause headaches and runny nose.